*  J 

#604 


Faith  in  God. 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #604 


Ko.  lOO. 

FAITH  IN  GOD. 


"Whoever  thou  art  that  readest  this  page, allow 
the  writer  to  address  this  question  to  thee. 

Art  thou  young — Dost  thou  believe  on  the  Son 
of  God?  0  that  thou  did!  How  the  Scripture 
extols  and  recominmcuds  early  Godliness!  They 
that  seek  me  early,  says  the  Saviour,  shall  find 
me — find  me — for  there  is  an  emphasis  in  the 
promise;  find  me,  as  others  never  will, -newer  can, 
find  me — find  me  in  a  thousand  peculiar  preserva- 
tions, honors,  advantages,  and  delights.  And 
what  a  favorable  season  do  you  now  enjoy! — the 
body  in  health  and  .strength — the  mind  in  vig- 
or— the  memory  retentive — the  affections  warm 
—the  heart  tender — the  cares  and  troubles  of  life 
scarcely  begun — the  days  distant  in  which  you 
Will  say,  ''I  have  no  pleasure  in  them!"  Oh!  re- 
deem the  time.  Remember  thy  Creator  in  the  days 
of  Thy  youth.  Enter  immediately  a  course  that  is 
profitable  unto  all  things ;  having  promise  of  the 
life*that  now  is.  and  of  that  which  is  to  come. 

Art  thou  old — Dost  then  believe  on  the  Son  of 
God  ?  Thy  age  requires  respect ;  and  I  readily 
pay  it — But  thy  state  demands  all  thy  fidelity.— 
And  art  thou,  at  the  end  of  sixty,  seventy,  eighty 
years,  ignorant  of  the  Redeemer,  whom  to  know 
is  life  eternal  ?  Have  all  these  departed  seasons 
been  passed  only  in  vanity  a^d  vice  ?     Is  thy  day 


rapidly  closing;  and  thy  work,  thy  journey,  riot 
even  begun  ?  Does  thine  eye,  in  looking  back, 
meet  with  nothing  but  guilt ;  and  in  looking  for- 
ward, .nothing  b  nt  gloom  I  How  I  pity  thy  con- 
dition! It  is  time — it  is  high  time  to  awake  out 
of  sleep.  And  blessed  be  God,  it  is  not  too  late. 
I  announce  a  Saviour  who  is  able  to  save  unto  the 
uttermost  ;  and  who  converted  and  pardoned  the 
thief  at  the  eleventh  hour—  Oh  !  seek  him  wh^le 
he  may  be  found;  and  call  upon  him  while  he  is 
near.  But  if  thou  art  old  in  grace;  as  well  as  in 
age,  thy  hoary  head  being  found  in  the  way  of 
righteousness,  is  a  crow  n  of  glory.  And  thy  sal- 
vation is  nearer  than  when  thou-beliey^edst.  The 
night,  with  thee, -is  far  spent,  and  the  day  is  at 
hand.  Yet  a  little  while,  and  what  a  blessed  de- 
liverannce  I  What  a  glorious  elevation  !  Till  then, 
let  faith  and  patience  have  their  perfect  work.- — 
Recommend  his  service  *o  others,  from  your  own 
knowledge  of.its  excellency. 

Art  thou  indulged  by  Providence  ?     Dost  thou 
believe  on  the  Son  of  God  ?    Perhaps  sickness  led 
you  down  to  the  Very  gates  of  death  ;  and  you 
looked  into  eternity  ;  and  without  hope   in    that 
world,  you  trembled,  and  cried,  "  Take  me    not 
off  in  the  midst  of  my  days;  sp;ir/e  me,  that  I  may 
recover  strength,  before   I    go  hence  and  be  no 
more."      And  he  heard  your  cry  }  and  said  "  Re- 
urn  again,  ye  children  of  men."     And  have  you 
eturned  r.gain  to  folly  ?      And    have  you  forgot- 
en  that  the  vows  of  God  are  upon  you?      Awd 


*  am  con 

what  is  a  recovered  body  while  the  soul  is  full  of 
moral  disease?     A  reprieve,  too  is  not  a,  pardon. 
11  Dust  thou  art,  and  unto  dust  shalt  t!\ou;  return." 
Is  the  sentence  still  suspended;,  and.  the  delayed       . ., 
execution  will  be  attended  ,w,ith  added  terror  and 
remorse.     Perhaps  thy  business. flourishes  ;  thy 
grounds  biing  forth  plenty  fuUy.}  thy  cup  runneth 
over.     We  do  not  W/isfe-you  to- de-pise  the  liuui!- 
tics  of  Nature  and:;Fr^,vjdeuce,;  -yea.,  you  ought  to        -; 
be  thankful.  $ff  tk$gi. _k .;As  to  fefeeij  use,  they. ar  ■ 
valuaj>)e;}  bu-fc  \v^;  ar-e  thiey .  as.  a  portt'ojt.'-- 
How im$famho\$sA?i\}m  faqyght  .  jhat   you  must 
leave  them!     And  you  know  not  how  soon  you 
may  be  torn  from  all  your  treasure.     And.  even 
IB  the  mid  st  of  youi  &PRWB9EQ  areyou  not  in  straits  ?  . 
Do  you  not   sigh    over   your  very   enjoyments  ,?,$; 
Does  :iK>t  succe?$i?fts-j|^f)jb  as  ^$ap,|poiaiment,.  tell 
you  tjiafi this  is:rio£you£je&tZ     All!  these, failure* 
of  hopev these; inward, un easinesses;  are  the  in spi- 
ratioijfeQ^th^Aimiglit^to give.y.ou understandings  \  ..,-., 
They*  .^3.3  de$.ignp:d  fcortm'n  -you  from  your  crea- 
tures,(witJchvave^Vyai>if,y  and  vexation. of  spirit, 
to  a  Savjitwrt-v/h^-jsiuH-.ojf-gface^iid  truth.     Ac- 
quaint.noT,VAjbh^8(elf|.wl-h -liiiu -and    be  at  peace; 
thereby-gooflTslxail  corne  unto  thee. 

ArAjthdii  th  ^subject  i]f  ojfiivfion .?  Dost  thou 
belicv^ion'it^e  ^f.R>gf  god?,  To  be  poor  in  the 
world^auu^cb'c  de^iitutCtof  .the(true  riches  ;  .  to  have 
no  frifi}i^helo:^|ajid.n^  god.aboy;9|rtapa^;from 
the  sorrows  of  time  into  a  more  miserable  eterni- 
ty— is  a  state  so  dreadful,  that  every  feeling  of  be- 


nevolence  must  be  concerned  to  fl&fl  a  resource  for 
its  victims;  And  such  we  are  happy  enough  to 
be  able  to  open.  There  is  the  hope  of  Israel ;  the 
Saviour  thereof  in  the  time  of  trouble.  His  Gos- 
pel is  sent  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted.  Per- 
haps you  are  at  your  wits'  end — Perhaps  you  are 
ready  to  ciirse  the  day  of  your  birth — Perhaps  you 
are  tempted  1o  destroy  yoursejf.  Beware  of  a  cure 
that  will  be  far  worse  than  the  disease.  And  you 
need  it  not.  There  is  One  near  you  whom  you 
know  not.  He  is  new  stretching  forth  his  soft 
hand;  he  is  now  saying,  "Come  unto  me,  all  ye 
that  labour  and  are  heavy-laden,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest."  This  man  shall  be  the  peace  when  the 
Assyrian  comet h  into  the  land. 


PASTOR'S    COUNSEL. 

Dear  Friend  : 

Not  having  an  opportunity  to  speak  : 
to  you  personally,  and  believing  advice  needed, 
and  .on  }rour  part  desired,  I  avail  myself  of  this 
method  to  address  you.  I  assume  that  your 
'•heart  is  fixed  to  serve  God,"  and  that  the  great 
purpose*  of  your  life  is  to  save  your  own  soul, 
and  to  do  good.  To  aid  you  in  this  effort,  so 
right  in  itself,  praiseworthy,  and  approve  1  of 
God,  is  the  design  of  this  letter.  In  order  that 
you  may  feel  the '  importance  of  this  work  in 
which  you  are  engaged,  let  the  conviction  take 
full  possession  of  your  heart,  that  Religion — in 
ill  it  enjoins  or  prohibits;  in  all  it  promises  or 


threatens ;  to  aH  the  hopes  or  fears  tt  Inspires ; 
in  all  the"  love,  peace  or  joy  it  infuses — is  of 
all  important  subjects,  the  most  important  ever 
addressed  to  an  intelligent  being.  '"Such  a  con- 
viction will  secure  for  religion  the  attention  it 
demands,  and  render  cheerful  the  sacrifices  of 
which  it  is  so  worthy.  In  accordance  with  this 
conviction;  you  will  perceive  that  no  plan  is  to 
be  conceived,  entertained  or  executed  that  cart 
possibly  compromise  the  claims  of  piety.  A  life 
of  piety  is  to  be  the  end  at  which  you  aim  in 
all  your  plans,  purposes,  labors,  joys  or  sor- 
rows, successes"  or  •  failures,  amusements  or  re- 
creations— in  all,  in  everything,  at  all  time's,  pi- 
ety is  to  be  the  beginning,  the  continuance  and 
the  ending;  absorbing  and  moulding  and  con- 
trolling the  whole  man.  Do  you  ask  is.  reli- 
gion worthy  of  such  entire  devotion  to  its  ser- 
vice ?  If  you  consider  its  Author;  the  wisdom 
and  mercy  it  displays ;  the  good  it  bestows  and 
the  glory  it  promises,  you  can  but  conclude  it 
worthy  of  every  sacrifice.  Do  not  imagine  that 
such  a  consecration  to  God  and  devotion  to  Re- 
ligion will  enslave  you  and  render  life  unhap- 
py. Such  a  life  is  truly  free  and  truly  happy. 
Freed  from  the  dominion  of  sin,  you  have  more 
liberty:  freed  from  the  condemnation  of  a  guih 
ty  conscience,  you  have  peace  with  God  and  can 
but  be  happy.  Sin  begete  misery ;  Religion  de- 
stroys sin.  The  more  religion,  the  less  sin : 
the  less  sin,  the  less  misery  and  the  moro  hap- 
piness. 


Assuming  that  you  have  the  conviction  of  the 
ail-importance    of  Religion,    and    are  purposing 
to   offer  your  soul  and  body  as  a  living   and  ac- 
ceptable Sacrifice  upon  its  altars,  I  will  attempt 
to  give  you  some  assistance  in   making  this  of- 
fering.     1  do  not  suppose  you  will  attempt  the 
impossibility  of  living  an  entire  Christian  life  out 
of  the  Church  of  God,  but,  I  suppose,  acting  in 
accordance  with   the  conviction  and  purpose  al- 
ready expiessed,  you  have  either  joined  or  intend 
to  join  some  branch  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
thus  assume  all  the  responsibilities  of  a  professed 
Christian:     To  meet  the  obligations  thus  imposed, 
you  must  be  a  daily  student  of  the  Bible.     Notli* 
ing  will  compensate  for  ignorance  of  this  Holy 
Book.     You  should  read  it  entire  ev^ry  year 3  :<two  cioi§ 
chapters  in  the  Old  and  one  in  the  New  -Testament"  5 :  i  w 
daily,  and  live  on  Sabbath;  wi!Il -complete  the  entire  baa 
volume  in  a  year.  "  Thi -V  will  Dot  requite  an  DTdav  atlj 
nary  reacted  n§ore  than  half  an  hoar  per-day.  ;,  You; -'uv-t 
will  thus  read  th6L'feibre;cons5ecutive]y;'beeoin'e  ac- 
quainted with  its  contehtfey':and  have-  Jthe  triith/  of : •. ; ■.  i  i 
God  at  your  command  in  time  of  need;i    liefrthfo    ,\q 
chief  end,  in  studying  the  Bible; 'be,  not  /e©n'trd-::»;>'/i 
versy,  but  to  learn  the  will  of  God  eoricerhingyouy  kkUI 
and  the   way  to  heaven.     Commence,  rCGrntiuuQ,:-  -;J 
and  close  every  day  with  "prayer.     At  night  re- 
count the  acts  and  tempers  of  the  day,  and  try, 
them  at  the  bar  of  your  conscience,  in  the  light 
of  revealed  truth,  and  as   in  the  heart-searching 
■presence  of  God.     Do  all  things,  and  speak  all 
_%<m_£aj£i_knQwing:  that  God  sees  and  hears  y#a; 


and  with  reference  to  the  h  great  day."  Culti- 
vate the  sririt  of  charity,  and  recognize  all 
Christians  as  belonging  t<>  the  great  spiritual 
family  of  God.  Let  a  petition  for  the  pros- 
perity of  the  entire  Ci  urch  of  Christ  form  a 
part  of  your  daily  devotions  Be  zealous  ;  not 
as  a  sectarian,. hut  as  a  CI  ristian  ;  not  to  promote 
the  interest  of  a  party,  but  ^>r  the  glory 
of  God,  and  for  the  good  of  souls.  Never  at- 
tempt to  unsettle  any  one"*  religious  faith,  nor 
permit  any  to  attempt  to  change  yours:  regard 
every  such  attempt  hh  an  insult,  to  he  treated 
with  silent  contempt.  Avoid  controversy  and 
bigotry;  they  will  destroy  your  piety,  convert 
you  into#a  religions  rnountebauh  ;  render  you 
offensive  to  the  good,  [and  a  pest  1o  society. 
When  possible,  attend  .-ill  the  meetings  of  the 
Church.  Let  the  world  know  you  are  trying 
in  sober  earnest  to  save  your  soul  Never  he 
intimate  with  one  whorn  you  know  to  be  op-, 
posed  to  experimental  Religion  j  but  he  courte- 
ous and  kind  to  a!l  men.  Never  sutler  your- 
self to  jest  about  sacred  things,  or  use  vrords 
or  phrases  that  even,  approximate  to  profanity.- — " 
Never  let  the  b"s;ne,ss  of  the,,  week  intrude  upon" 
the  meditation  of  the  Sabbath,  Shun  unchaste* 
and  impure  conversation  as  you  would  a  poison. 
If  you  ever  become  the  head  of  a  family  at  once 
erect  the  domestic  altar.  Avoid  hearing  \  reach- 
ing critically,  but  listen  prayerfullylhat  you  may- 
bo  ed'itlcd.     Never  permit  the  Lord's  Supper  to  be 


spread  before  you  without  partaking  of  it.  While 
you  may  not  be  able  to  believe  that  everybody  does 
right,  yet  never  return  evil  for  evil,  or  permit  the 
sun  to  go  down  on  your  wrath  :  forgive  others  as 
you  hope  to  be  forgiven.  Never  entertain  the 
thought^'  leaving  the  Church  under  any  circum- 
stances. Should  you  backslide  and  become  con- 
scious of -unfitness*  for  the  Church,  do  not  leave  the 
Church,  but  repent  and  pray  till  you  obtain  par- 
don and  peace  and  are  fit.  Should  members  of 
the  Church  mistreat  you,  Jem  and  your  righis— ydo 
right  yourself — do  all  you  canto  settle  the  difficul- 
ty; but  never,  by  friend  or  foe,  by  sin  or  the  devil, 
be  induced  to  leave  the  Church,  unless  you  do  not 
intend  to  do  right,  and  are  willing  to  give  up  all 
iope  of  "heaven.  Watch  and  pray  ,  take  up  every 
cross;  deny  yourself ;  possess  and  practice  every 
(Christian  virtue ;  try  to  be  a  model,  that  is,  a  Bible 
Christian,  never  forgetting  that  the  creditabilily 
•of  Religion  among  your  friends,  your  own  charac- 
ter and  reputation  in  a  measure,  your  respecta- 
hility,  your  interest  and  happiness,  your  useful- 
ness, and  above  all,  thetsalvation  of  your  soul  de- 
pend upon  your  Christian  integrity.  God  has 
•promised  you  grace  to  do  this;  ask  and  you  shall 
have  it. 

Please  keep  this  letter  as  an  evidence  of  my 
heartfelt  interest  in  your  welfare,  and  a  pledge  of 
my  sympathy  and  prayers  ,  read  it  occasional  lv 
jand  may  it  do  the  good  I  design. — Rev.  Jas.  H 
tirmt- 


Hollinger  Corp, 
PH  8.5 


